Julius Kühn-Institut

Effects of Anticoagulant Rodenticides and Farm Habitat Structure on Avian Communities in Livestock Farms

Rat control using anticoagulant rodenticides on livestock farms is a widely applied practice worldwide. Birds can be exposed to rodenticides through direct ingestion or secondary poisoning, resulting in mortality or sublethal health effects. While impacts on raptors and owls are...

First report of ‘ Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’ in maize ( Zea mays L.) in Germany

In Germany, maize (Zea mays L.) is cultivated on approximately 2.4 Mha, making it one of the most widely grown arable crops alongside wheat and barley (German Federal Statistical Office, 2025). Although maize has previously been identified as a host of Candidatus Phytoplasma sola...

Spatiotemporal dynamics of the barley rhizosphere prokaryotic community following repeated inoculation with Ensifer meliloti Rm2011 in a three-year field study

Abstract Background and aims Microbial inoculants are increasingly recognized for enhancing crop productivity and sustainable agriculture. We assessed the rhizosphere competence of Ensifer meliloti Rm2011 in different barley genotypes following repeated inoculation in three growi...

Contribution of Skin Contact and Yeast Selection to Aroma-Related Volatile Composition in Wines Made from New Fungus-Resistant Grapevines

Abstract This study evaluated the impact of varying skin contact treatments and yeast strains on the volatile composition of wines from three fungal disease-resistant grapevine varieties (PIWI), aiming to optimize the extraction and formation of sensorially relevant volatiles dur...

Linking microbial community composition of three rootstock genotypes to apple replant disease susceptibility

Abstract Background Apple replant disease (ARD) is a worldwide issue of complex biotic origin. The exact aetiology has yet to be fully elucidated and environmentally friendly and economically feasible countermeasures are sparse. The breeding of tolerant apple rootstock genotypes...

Integrating a pesticide risk indicator into a multi-criteria assessment tool for comparing crop protection scenarios

CONTEXT Chemical pesticides remain central to agricultural productivity but pose well documented risks to human health and ecosystems. While Integrated Pest Management (IPM) offers a more sustainable alternative, its adoption remains limited, partly due to the complex trade-offs...

Food Security Versus Environmental Health: The Nitrogen Dilemma

ABSTRACT Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth and, consequently, crop production. However, the cycling of nitrogen in the environment can have negative effects. Here, we review the historical development of scientific and public awareness of these effects and the inf...

Diversity parameter calculation from SSR data with varying and higher ploidy levels: an example on pear (Pyrus ssp.) data

Abstract Objective SSR markers are used for a myriad of genetic analyses, such as genotyping, parentage analysis or genetic structure, due to their high polymorphism, co-dominance and genomic ubiquity. Most downstream analysis tools usually require a diploid dataset but some plan...

Transforming viticulture through genomic innovation and integrated pest management for sustainable grape production

Abstract Climate change and intensifying disease pressure push viticulture beyond incremental adaptation, especially where grape production depends on repeated pesticide applications. Reducing chemical inputs requires an integrated strategy combining broader genetic diversity, co...